A dimly-lit stone box, seemingly aged and plain, without any intricate design or craftsmanship. Yet upon opening it, a pearl was revealed—grayish, dull, unremarkable, and not even perfectly round.
“Is this the so-called Zen Divine Pearl?” Shi Hao picked it up, examining it carefully, yet found nothing extraordinary.
If one must say something unusual about it, it was precisely how utterly ordinary it appeared—as if it were a stone bead carved by a child, lacking any aesthetic appeal. It was dull, lifeless, and seemed cloaked in dust.
“True treasures often appear plain. They survive the test of time, endure the river of history, become legendary, and eventually return to simplicity and sincerity,” the witch said solemnly.
Shi Hao did not find it amusing at all. He examined the pearl once more, then probed it with his divine sense. Instantly, he sensed a vast ripple, like an ocean crashing upon him.
This item was indeed formidable—it could subdue one’s spiritual consciousness!
It appeared mundane, yet once activated, like a rare stone refined by time itself, it had shed all superficial brilliance, retaining only inner essence.
“How do you use it?” Shi Hao asked.
“There’s some risk. First, we must construct a Consciousness-Sealing Formation to lock a piece of Heaven and Earth. Then, we’ll enter Yue Chan’s spiritual sea and plant this pearl upon her core spiritual imprint,” the witch explained.
“So troublesome?” Shi Hao frowned.
“If it were an ordinary person, we could suppress them with a wave of the hand. But Yue Chan is no ordinary foe. I suspect a slumbering deity lies deep within her consciousness,” the witch replied, her expression unusually grave.
“This carries risk. I don’t think it’s worth it,” Shi Hao argued.
“Don’t worry. This pearl is an ancient treasure—perhaps the only one of its kind in all eight realms. Even a True God’s consciousness could be sealed by it,” insisted the witch.
She continued persuasively, explaining that if they succeeded, they might obtain the highest secret of the Heavens’ Mending Sect. Her lips curled into a seductive smile as she spoke of the ancient method known as the Divine Embryo Rebirth Technique—her true desire was to acquire it herself.
“Fine,” Shi Hao agreed. Fortunately, he had abundant resources at his disposal, even if the imperial palace had once been looted. Constructing a Consciousness-Sealing Formation would be effortless for him.
That day, Shi Hao began arranging a grand formation within a secret chamber alongside the witch, carefully calculating every variable. When satisfied, they prepared to subdue Yue Chan.
“Father, Mother, I’m going into seclusion for a few days,” Shi Hao announced. After just returning, he was about to vanish again.
Back in his homeland and having returned to Stone City, Shi Zi Ling was overwhelmed with emotion and nostalgia. That day, he and his wife wandered the city streets, passing by various mansions—each time almost entering, then hesitating.
“Zi Ling, are you really so hesitant upon returning home, too embarrassed to meet old friends?” a warrior king appeared, inviting them to his home.
On that day, the imperial city of Stone Country was in a stir—the Parents of the Human Emperor had returned. Could they be considered Deities?
Once a prodigy of Stone City, Shi Zi Ling had vanished for over a decade, and now, the truth of his absence was finally revealed, known to many.
“Do you know? The Deity Emperor was personally escorted back by the current Emperor, who invaded the Netherworld and overthrew the Mount Immortal!”
“Is that really true? That’s too incredible!”
The name of the Demon Emperor shook the Netherworld, and though all in that realm knew, it had not yet spread to the Wilderness Domain, where only a few were aware—because inter-domain communication remained difficult.
Yet once the news slipped through, even if known by a few, it was destined to spread across the land.
In the Netherworld, it had already erupted into chaos; a youth had slain his way into Mount Immortal alone, performing a miracle so incredible it would shake the world.
Undoubtedly, once confirmed, every major force—Heavens’ Mending Sect, the Western Sect, and others—would proceed with caution and reconsider their strategies.
Shi Hao began his “seclusion,” forbidding any interruptions.
Even as a captive, Yue Chan remained composed and serene, her elegance untouched. Her white gown trailed behind her as she stood tall, her silhouette graceful and alluring.
Her skin was ivory-like in whiteness, her long hair soft and lustrous, her eyes like dark gemstones with long lashes, her lips crimson and full. She was a peerless beauty, flawless as if walking from a painting.
“When will we marry, Yue Chan?” Shi Hao teased, not yet attacking physically, but probing mentally, aiming to stir her emotions and strike when vulnerable.
“If you can capture that witch and make her my servant, I might consider agreeing,” Yue Chan replied unexpectedly, adopting a different stance than before.
Though she said that, her voice was calm, devoid of worldly emotions, as if she stood beyond the mundane, indifferent to the affairs of this world.
Shi Hao’s mind stirred. Was this woman so spiritually perceptive? Had she sensed something and was now testing him?
“That’s simple. After we marry, I’ll consider capturing her and having her accompany you,” Shi Hao replied with a smile.
“Isn’t she already here?” Yue Chan gave a meaningful smile, radiant and captivating, glancing around.
Shi Hao’s heart tightened. Indeed, she was extraordinary.
“Little sister, why not come out? Have you come especially to fight me, seeking to steal my Dao fruit?” Her voice was melodious as celestial music, echoing within the formation.
Shi Hao shook his head. “What are you suspecting now?”
“Xiao Shi, let me give you a warning—among all beings in the world, the most terrifying of all is that witch. Beware of her,” Yue Chan said.
Shi Hao remained silent. Both women were formidable—one might expect them to scheme even at such a critical juncture.
“You’ve seen both faces of the witch. At least one must be a Spiritual Avatar. Are you certain the remaining one is her real body? Who really is she? You may not even know,” Yue Chan added.
“What are you trying to say?” Shi Hao asked, not eager to attack, instead wanting to learn more of the witch through Yue Chan.
Yue Chan smiled faintly, truly breathtaking. The entire space seemed to brighten as she stood there.
“Can you truly trust someone whose genuine form you’ve never seen? Be careful, she may be setting a trap to ensnare you too,” she said.
Sighing, Shi Hao acknowledged that clever women could be trouble. A few words from Yue Chan were enough to unsettle him, shaking his confidence.
The witch knew so much yet had not revealed her true form. Could she be planning to betray him as well? A grim possibility arose in his mind.
“She hasn’t even revealed her true form—how can she be trusted?” Yue Chan added, her smile growing brighter. Her skin shimmered, eyes sparkling with brilliance, nose graceful, lips radiant. “You don’t know her real self; there are so many possibilities—she might help you, betray you, or even be a demon. Perhaps she and I are two sides of the same coin. You can’t even verify any of this.”
As she said that, Shi Hao drew in a sharp breath. That final statement unsettled him.
He thought he should use the Divine Eye of the ancient Heavy Eyed One to observe the witch. Could it be truly Yue Chan’s primary spirit?
An absurd thought, yet one that sent shivers up his spine. Yue Chan’s words had planted doubt and caution within him.
“Yue Chan, my dear sister, I’ve come to see you get married,” the witch said lightly as she entered the formation. She gave Shi Hao a disdainful look, huffing slightly to show disapproval.
“I as divinity, you as demon. How could it be so?” Yue Chan said.
Such words were startling.
“My dear Yue Chan, I must admit, your spiritual intuition is terrifyingly powerful. You must sense what’s about to unfold,” the witch replied candidly, directly pointing out Yue Chan’s manipulation.
Shi Hao kept silent, thoughtfully standing aside. After a moment, he said, “Let’s begin.”
Surprised, the witch asked, “You don’t believe her words of provocation?”
Shi Hao smiled. “I believe I can suppress everything. If even in my own palace, on my own territory, I allow someone to reverse the situation, then I might as well smash my head against the wall.”
“Arrogant and impetuous,” she muttered.
“Then let’s join hands and walk together,” Shi Hao teased, reaching for her delicate arm.
“Don’t get fresh with me!” she snapped.
Finally, to show sincerity, two brilliant, radiant figures flew forth from their brows, hand in hand, and dove together into Yue Chan’s forehead.
At that moment, Yue Chan’s cultivation was sealed. She couldn’t resist—only preparing mentally in her own spiritual sea.
Within that sea, a woman in white stood waiting, looking toward Shi Hao and saying, “Whether this battle ends in victory or not, even if nothing unexpected occurs, beware of the witch. She is the most terrifying of all.”
“Dear Yue Chan, how unkind! Even on the verge of marriage, you plant such seeds of distrust. Alas, even a fairy is not a kind-hearted soul!” the witch lamented.
Yue Chan smiled sweetly. “The truth shall reveal itself in time.”
Undoubtedly, she could not withstand their combined might, especially with the witch wielding the stone pearl capable of stabilizing this spiritual sea—it was truly a terrifying force.
Moreover, atop Shi Hao’s head floated the Emperor’s Seal, exuding strands of dragon qi, shielding him and rendering him impervious to all laws—unstoppable and invincible!
This was the Human Emperor’s Seal, imbued with the fate of an entire nation, a supreme treasure capable of suppressing everything within the palace!
“Boom!”
Together, Shi Hao and the witch pushed open the pair of golden doors. Within slept a subconscious identity—the woman inside was their true, formidable opponent.
The spiritual sea was crystalline and pristine, spotless and immaculate, revealing Yue Chan’s boundless potential and pure soul essence. Above this sea floated clouds and mist, beneath which hovered pavilions of jade.
Within a grand jade palace, a woman slept, enveloped in golden radiance. Her skin was white and luminous, her beauty divine.
The moment the golden doors were forced open, her eyes snapped open, unleashing beams of divine symbols. The woman floated upward, as if a deity descending.
“You allowed her in without fear she might suppress both of us?” Yue Chan asked.
“Not at all,” Shi Hao replied, hands behind his back, the Emperor’s Seal above him releasing strands of dragon energy, concealing him in a haze.
“You’re no fun. Why won’t you give me a chance?” the witch complained, casting a glance at Shi Hao and the Emperor’s Seal above.
“Attack!” Shi Hao ordered.
In an instant, a fierce battle erupted within the crystalline spiritual sea. Three figures soared like gods and ascended like immortals.
The witch held the stone pearl. In that moment, the Zen Divine Pearl shed its dust and radiated divine brilliance, capable of stabilizing the Eight Directions—almost freezing space itself.
Yet, this divine-like Yue Chan stood proudly, her spiritual force beyond imagination, surpassing her known cultivation level, and resisting fiercely.
“You said it could even bind a True God!” Shi Hao called out.
The witch smiled brightly. “This only proves how extraordinary she is. Capture her, and we’ll reap unfathomable rewards.”
“Chi!”
Shi Hao unleashed his Heaven-Connecting Sword Qi, launching a spiritual assault—within a spiritual realm, even divine arts could manifest.
“Chi!”
A true dragon emerged, coiling around Yue Chan, roaring toward the heavens and dispelling all the sword qi.
The witch began chanting, and radiant petals of light danced around her, flying toward Yue Chan. Each petal bore ancient Daoic markings, brimming with power.
With a roar, a celestial phoenix emerged beside the fairy, wreathed in flames, as though reborn in fiery trial—devouring all petals.
This Yue Chan far exceeded her known strength—she was no easy foe!
Were it not for the Zen Divine Pearl already weakening her spiritual essence, the battle might have ended differently.
This was an intense and prolonged battle. Endless beams of light streaked across the space. Infinite divine techniques were displayed.
“Boom!”
Yue Chan radiated light, projecting chains of sacred, orderly energy. Like the holiest goddess from the highest heavens, she looked down upon all life, commanding all.
The situation was dire—her power was unimaginable.
“Sister, your origin is indeed mysterious. But against the Zen Divine Pearl, an ancient supreme treasure, your struggle is futile,” the witch said, employing secret techniques to activate the pearl.
Mysterious energy spread, disrupting the rules of Heaven and Earth. The pearl created its own domain, sealing all beneath its power!
Shi Hao was astonished yet reassured—he had hidden aces, ready in case the witch turned on him.
“Strike!” the witch sent mentally.
At this moment, the Heavenly Severing Art surged forth—a beam of eternal light!
Simultaneously, Shi Hao unleashed the Kunpeng Method, illuminating the crystalline spiritual sea as it sealed the peerless beauty.
Finally, all fell silent. The incomparably beautiful fairy was bound in divine chains, completely sealed, with the stone pearl resting atop her—her fate sealed.
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